Internal-combustion engine



April 15 3924,

W. E. VER PLANCK INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 5, 1919 hatented Apr, l5, l2d.

WIMKAEE EVERE WEE PLAEGK, 03E SCHENEGTADY, NEW YQRK, ASSEGNOR T GEN- TERM ELECTRIC CGWANY, A GORPG'RATION GE NW YGRK.

1M AL-CQMBUSTIUN ENGINE.

hpplication filed-November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,846.

To all whom it may con/0cm:

Be it known that l, l/irnnmrc E. Van Pmnca, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectad in the county of s Schenectady, State of ew York, have invented certain new and useful llprovements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the. following is a specification. The present invention relates to internal :0 combustion engines of the type in which the fuel is sprayed by fuel injectors directly into the combustion chamber either with or without the aid of compressed air and particularly to such en ines wherein a plurality of injectors usua ly two, are provided which are arranged diametrically opposite each other and discharge conical sprays of fuel which impinge on each other. The object of my invention is to provide an improved form of combustion chamber and arrangement of injectors in connection therewith and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 1s a vertical sectional view of an engine cylinder embodying invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view en on line 2 -2. Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a so sectional view taken at a right, angle to that of F1 l. A

e errin to the drawing, 5 indicates a cylinder 0 an internal combustion engine havin 'a cooling 'acket d; 7 indicates the so cylin er'head, an 8 a' iston which moves in cylinder 5. ln cylin or head 7 are inlet and exhaust valves 9 and 10 actuated by a rocking lever ll.

New, according to my invention 1 pro-- to vide a combustion chamber in the head of the general form of a sphere on diametrical- 1y opposite sides of which are superimposed cones. The cones have the same axis and the s here is of such diameter that the an inner ear aces oi the cones are tangent to its inner walls. y the term tan cut to its inner walls, it will be understeo that I do not intend to limit myself to exact tangency but only to tangency within ordinary so limits. At the a n of each coneis located a spray nozzle o suitable design which discharges cone-shaped fuel sprays toward the sphere where they strike each other.. The cones are oi such size that they are slightly larger than the conical sprays of loci dis charged from the nozzles so the fuel does not strike the sides of the cones. As a result the fuel sprays will strike each other at about the central vertical transverse plane of the sphere. The fuel sprays after they have impinged on each other will accordingly have the sphere to expand in which provides the maximum of space with the minimum wall surface. In an engine of this type it is desirable that the combustion chamber communicate with the cylinder space through an opening of less diameter than the cylinder diameter. To this end I provide in the piston head ,a spherical depression which "forms a part of T0 the sphere of the combustion chamber and this depression is chosen of such size as to give the desired area of opening between the combustion chamber and cylinder while at the same time preserving the spherical T5 outline of the combustion chamber. The arrangement is such that the suction and dis; charge valves are arranged on the surface of the sphere and preferably the opening between the combustion chamber and cylinder space is such that the valve seats may be machined and the valve removed through the same. This avoids the usev of a two piece head.

On account of the high compression required in this type of engine the permissible size of combustion chamber is limited, and by my invention ll so dispose this limited volume of combustion chamber-- that there will be no dead air pockets and that the fuel sprays can distribute fuel throughout thewhole of the air in the combustion chamber. At the same time the arrangement is such that reasonable sized valvescan be used.

In the drawing, 15 indicates the spherical portion of the combustion chamber and 16 and 17 the two cones superimposed thereon. In the present instance the sphere is shown as bein of such diameter that it is larger than a sphere tangent to the sides of the cone. 100 18 indicates the spherical depression in the head of piston 8 and 19, the openingbetween the combustion chamber and the cylinder space.

In the present instance, two opposed 105 spray nozzles are shown but as is obvious ngaoire than two may be used if found desir-.

lhe arrangement of the combustion =1 In her is suitable for either two cycle or tour 3m combustion chamber. At the same time, the

combustion chamber comes within the permissible limits 1n size.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now be lieve to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to'have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried'out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, walls forming a combustion chamber having the contour of a sphere upon which are superimposed a plurality of opposed cones, the inner surfaces of the cones being tangent to the inner walls of the sphere.

2. In an internal combustion engine, walls forming a combustion chamber having the contour of a sphere upon which are superimposed a plurality of opposed cones, and fuel injectors located at the apices of said cones which discharge conical shaped sprays toward said sphere and each other, the inner surfaces of said cones being tangent to the inner walls of the sphere whereby the fuel sprays from the injectors will be distributed throughout the combustion chamber.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the

1 depression in the top of the piston of such size asto provide a passageof restricted area between the combustion chamber and the cylinder, and fuel-injecting means at the apices of said cones, the inner surfaces of said cones being tangent to the inner walls of the sphere whereby the fuel sprays from the injector will be distributed throughout the combustion chamber.

4-. In an internal combustion engine. the combination of a cylinder, a piston. therein, walls forming a combustion chamber ofthe contour of a sphere upon which is superimposed two diametrically opposed cones the innersurfaces of which are tangent to the inner Walls of the sphere, a portion of said sphere being formed by a depression in the top of the piston of such size as to provide a passage of restricted area between the combustion chamber and the cylinder, fuel injecting means at the apices of said cones, and suction and discharge Valvrs resting on the upper half of the wall of said sphere, said valves being accessible through said passages.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 4th day of November, 1919.

wiLuAM avsasrr VER PLANCK. 

